Chairman of the Integrity Commission, Kenneth Gordon

Fixing the Integrity Commission:Integrating integrity

Let's face it: private sector bribes corrupt the public sector. To reduce corruption the private and public sectors must be scrutinised but this is not something the current Integrity Commission (IC) can do. The country needs more than five individuals and 4,000 forms annually to shake off this reputation for corruption.

The irony is that even with the country’s growing reputation for corruption, the IC is notorious for commess. That’s tragedy when you think about the IC’s dual legal responsibility for oversight of persons in public life and private persons interfacing with public bodies.

The IC is better known for its lens into public offices. But it can also investigate private behaviour which may constitute criminal offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act (POCA). Through this non-exclusive power under POCA, the IC can reach into the private sector and private interests. A widening of that power and the review of POCA and the nature of the IC are needed.

This need to hold the private sector accountable is obvious. The biggest challenge to integrity in public life is its collision with corrupt or corrupting elements from the private sector. It is difficult to speak about integrity in public life without enforcing ethical behaviour amongst private interests. But to shift the culture and the way business is done, the IC needs help.